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Yes, will the future of driving be fully autonomous? Will one day, all driving will become AI driven, and human driving become illegal? With more technologies build into newer cars, it seem to me that that day maybe getting closer and closer. "Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist" in my last and current cars had saved me from a few accidents, "Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Avoidance Assist" has also been activated so many times in the MSCPs. What are the advantages and disadvantages? Well, I think that traffic will be alot smoother, since every car will be travelling at the speed limit and gap distances. Eliminate speeding, road hogging, tailgating, play jam brake, behind car in the next lane speed up when you signal to change lane. Maybe also reduce the chances of highway accidents and jams so that we are on time most of the time. Then, speed cameras and traffic light cams will become useless, ERP will no longer be required. No need traffic police to hide on the overhead bridges, lesser road accidents also means reduce workload for medical and health care workers, etc etc etc. But but but, it also means no summons and no thank you for the nation building fund, and the Monies must come from somewhere else. Will i live to see it happen, maybe not. so can you accept it?

Cars are becoming more and more homogenised. No, I'm not saying that cars are becoming identical, but as more and more cars become electrified and more EVs come to market, they will tend to feel the same. You see, consumers want cars that are quiet, spacious and convenient, and manufacturers are giving us just that. Some of us (not everyone looks at the list of standard safety features, sadly) want safer cars, too, so carmakers are bundling in more safety and driver assistance functions. So, most modern cars today are easy to drive and have numerous amenities that cater to drivers and passengers. But if you love driving, you would have surely noticed that driving a modern car doesn't deliver the same engagement that driving say, an older manual car does. Congestion, the enemy Can you drive a manual sports car today? Yes, enthusiasts do. But not me, because it's not rewarding to drive a manual car when my daily commute to and from the office happens during peak hours. The mere thought of repeatedly shifting from first to second and second to first, with some second to third thrown in from time to time, twice a day, is abhorrent. It is a chore. One might ask, "Well, why not go for late-night drives then?" After 8-10 hours at work, which also involves a fair amount of driving (test cars), I need to rest. A fatigued driver is a dangerous one. The writer gearing up for his first ride on his first bike Swopping four wheels for two So, how can a keen driver still feel engaged? Interestingly, one alternative is to ride a motorcycle. If you've never ridden a motorcycle before, imagine this. In a car, with an automatic transmission, you can pretty much just look out for traffic and steer. Only your right foot needs to work, and you're insulated and physically protected. On a motorcycle, you'll need all your wits and your senses (including whatever sixth sense or premonitions you can muster) to keep yourself safe. Looking out for other traffic is just beginning, because you need to even predict 'car and driver language' based on how a vehicle is being driven. And we haven't even gotten to operating a bike with a manual gearbox. An ignition that needs an actual key, analogue gauges, and yes, a 10,000rpm redline For the uninitiated, the clutch is a lever on the left handlebar and the shifter is a peg below your left foot. The accelerator is on right handlebar, which you twist towards you to accelerate. In front of it is the lever for the front brake and below your foot is the pedal for the rear brake. Your entire body is involved in riding a bike, and this is especially true when going around corners. And if sightlines in a car are important, they are everything when it comes to riding - where you look is where the bike will go. On a bike, looking the wrong way could end with you becoming a part of the scenery or taking an unwanted dip in a longkang. That's more than enough to keep me alert. Risky, but that's life in general If you're a biker, you'd undoubtedly have heard all the questions about risk and danger, especially given how vulnerable one is on two wheels. Is driving safer? In a sense, yes. But how much safer, actually? To me, riding a motorcycle is as risky as riding my bicycle on the road. So is crossing the road. Even walking on the pavement is dangerous, especially if there are cyclists are intent on zipping by you. I could as easily trip while walking as I could bump my knee on a table leg (it just happened again today). If I were to analyse every action I intended to take and anticipate its danger potential, I'd literally be stuck at home, which by the way is where most accidents occur. If you think most cars are becoming staid and uninteresting, I recommend taking a bike lesson (or two). Even if you're a die-hard manual sports car enthusiast, you may end up finding the experience to be an eye-opening, and perhaps addictive one.

Volvo is pretty renowned for how safe their cars are. The brand’s models qualify for the highest possible safety rating from the IIHS (International Institute for Highway Safety) and there's tons of airbags to protect the car's occupants no matter the point of impact. Nonetheless, this driver’s behaviour still isn’t advisable. What happened? On 1st May at Thomson Road, a camcar was minding their own business when a Volvo V40 tried to merge from a minor road to the major road that the cam car is on. It is unclear what was the Volvo driver’s thinking process but it had to be influenced by something (probably starting with A) in order to think this was a good idea. The Volvo driver went across not one, not two, but three lanes before stopping just in time to avoid kissing the wall and expensive repairs. According to the Facebook post, a bus also needed to jam brakes along with the camcar. It’s a shame there’s no audio in the footage because I know it’d be colorful. The Volvo then drove off without a word, but likely with stained pants. Online chatter Once again, the standards of our driving school are called into question. Others asked if the driver had a license at all. ========= Be the first to get the latest road/ COE news and get first dibs on exclusive promos and giveaways in our Telegram SGCM Community. Join us today!

We already had enough hair-raising moment with notorious PMD and PAB rooming on our street and public road, cannot imagine the situation over in Sweden where the weapon of mass destruction has been upgraded to a full size car or even 5 tonner!! Source: https://www.straitstimes.com/world/europe/swedens-teens-drive-porsches-and-bmws-no-licence-needed HUDDINGE, Sweden – Too young for a driver’s licence at 15, Evelina Christiansen is already cruising in a sleek BMW in Sweden, where teens can drive any car modified to roll no faster than a golf cart. An almost century-old regulation originally applied to agricultural vehicles allows children 15 and older to drive without a proper driver’s licence, as long as the vehicle has been altered to have a maximum speed of 30kmh. Called “A-traktors” – with Swedes often using “EPAs” as an older designation – these cars and trucks have become so popular in recent years that the authorities are now concerned about a rise in road accidents. “I got it a year ago, in April, for my birthday,” Evelina tells AFP proudly in front of her dark blue 5-series BMW in the driveway of her family’s home in a southern Stockholm suburb. The gift was a special reward for her achievements in school. While teenagers elsewhere have to make do with a moped or scooter until they get a driver’s licence, young Swedes can use almost any vehicle that has its top speed capped. In Stockholm’s wealthy suburbs, teens are regularly seen driving Porsche Cayennes on their own. “I usually use it when I go to school or meet up with friends,” Evelina says. A triangular warning sign in the back indicating a slow-moving vehicle and a hitch ball for trailers are both mandatory for an A-traktor. The back seat must also be removed, so it can carry only the driver and one passenger. All that is required is a simple moped licence, available to people 15 or older, or a tractor licence, which can be obtained by people 16 or older. The system is surprisingly lenient in a country known for championing road safety – the three-point seatbelt is a Swedish invention – and for its strict drink-driving rules. The system was relaxed even further in mid-2020, when it became possible to cap cars’ top speeds electronically, making it much easier to modify a modern car. Originally the domain of youth in rural areas, young people in the city have increasingly been getting wheels of their own, with the number of registered A-traktors doubling to 50,000 in just 2½ years, in a country of 10.3 million inhabitants. The predecessors of today’s A-traktors originated during the 1930s Depression, when there was a shortage of agricultural equipment. To encourage the construction of cheap vehicles when tractors were still out of reach for farmers, the government allowed them to cobble together simple cars. In the 1950s, as the economy prospered, real tractors became more common and the need for these home-styled vehicles began to subside. But in the countryside, young people without a licence were happy to use them to get around, especially in areas without much public transport. The state formalised the use of A-traktors with a 1963 regulation, which has been closely guarded for decades in rural Sweden. Only in 2018 did the authorities introduce mandatory roadworthiness testing for the vehicles. Sweden looks set, however, for a battle with the European Union, which criticised the system in early March, and proposed that a simplified permit become mandatory. For many rural teenagers, the A-traktor symbolises their dream of independence. It is also the focus of a growing subculture focused on customised cars and a new music genre hugely popular in Sweden called “EPA Dunk”. In the western Swedish town of Karlstad, 17-year-old Ronja Lofgren regularly turns heads with her 5.5-tonne Scania Vabis truck from 1964, which her father saved from the scrapheap. The teen has adorned the refurbished truck with a gleaming red-and-blue paint job and lots of headlights. The motto “Queen of the Road” is emblazoned on the front and “Go with style” on the back. “When I went into town at first, everyone would pull out their phones and film me,” the teenager told AFP.

Hi, I'm looking for a good driving school that can teach me how to drive, because I really want to. Please advise good courses. I found https://freecarnyc.com/location/flatlands, read the reviews, seems good. What do you think?

There's something strange in the neighbourhood... Well, I've discovered something interesting during my baby fetching duties... Near a childcare, I noticed that there was this place called "Motional", which was shuttered most of the time. When it's open, there are a lot of people who don't seem to let others see what's inside. I just assumed it was a warehouse and I didn't pay much attention or google the name until one day, when I did a very late pick up on a Saturday and I noticed the cars inside.. It's none other than the car that will be our local flagship in due time... and my interested was piqued.. I then google the company and they are a company which does testing of driver-less cars all over the world and now they are in Singapore! https://motional.com/news/motional-opens-new-singapore-operations-facility-expands-international-testing So we might be one of the places to try this out .. And I am also keen on the Ioniq here, and it does look much better than some of the earlier EVs available..

We already have a reckless thread, but this one is for M'sia and some info I gleaned from ST, as well as the info advice: https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/transport/askst-what-to-do-if-you-get-into-motor-related-incidents-in-malaysia "SINGAPORE - Since the land borders reopened on April 1, motorists have resumed driving to Malaysia. On July 16, a Singapore-registered Honda Civic Type R was reportedly stolen from the parking compound of SkyAvenue shopping mall in Genting Highlands in the state of Pahang. It was said to be found three days later in a condominium carpark in another state - Selangor - with parts missing and carrying a different registration plate. The Straits Times answers some questions on what to do if one encounters such troubles in Malaysia. Q: Do I need additional insurance to use my vehicle outside Singapore? A: Unless specifically stated otherwise, the typical private motor insurance policy will include coverage in Peninsular Malaysia and up to 80km of the border between Malaysia and Thailand. It is a legal requirement to have valid insurance against third-party risks to use a car or motorcycle on Malaysian roads. This is the minimum level of coverage, which will address any damage or injury to other parties but not for you or your vehicle. Q: My car has gone missing in Malaysia - what do I do? A: Make a police report and take that document back to Singapore to file a claim with your insurer. Note that compensation will be applicable only for comprehensive and third party with fire and theft coverage policies. Q: Now that my car is gone, when will I be compensated? A: Mr Oliver Ong from Accord Insurance Agency said in the case of a car stolen in Malaysia, the insurer will wait for the police to conclude their investigation before compensation can be disbursed. Q: I just had a motor accident involving my Singapore-registered vehicle in Malaysia. Do I need to make a police report? A: Yes. It is a legal requirement under the country's Road Transport Act 1987 to report the accident at the nearest police station within 24 hours. Bring along your driving licence and certificate of insurance. Your insurer in Singapore will also require a copy of the police report when you file your claim. According to General Insurance Association of Singapore's (GIA) motor claims framework, the driver has to report the accident to the insurer within the next working day. However, you will not be penalised for being late if it is not possible to take the car back to Singapore any earlier. The vehicle has to be taken to an approved reporting centre or authorised workshop for assessment. In addition to the details of the other parties involved, include any photographs of the damage, the surrounding road conditions and in-car video footage to help the insurer determine the liability to be assumed by each party. In the case when both vehicles are Singapore-registered, the respective insurance companies will proceed to ascertain how much liability is attributed to the parties. Q: My Singapore-registered car was hit by a Malaysian car in Malaysia. How do I get it fixed? A: Lawyer Sarjeet Singh, head of the insurance department at Kelvin Chia Partnership, recommends making an "own damage" claim on your own policy. For insurance claim repairs in Singapore, motor workshops would not start work before insurers agree on cost estimates and give the go-ahead. If you wish to make a third-party motor claim against an insurer in Malaysia, GIA advises that you take up your case with the company in Malaysia. It stated that "as an industry practice, an insurer will not act on your behalf to file a third-party claim". To make the claim, you will need to include, among other documents, a copy of your vehicle registration card, insurance cover note, identity card, police report, result of the police investigation and proof of losses incurred. If the claim is unsuccessful after all means have been exhausted, GIA advises to approach its Malaysian counterpart, Persatuan Insurans Am Malaysia (at this website and e-mail: [email protected]), with the evidence. 'I thought we were all finished': Family smashes windows to escape after car overturns in Johor Lorry driver arrested after ramming into 11 vehicles on Causeway Q: Will I receive compensation for the damage caused by an accident with a Malaysia-registered car in Malaysia? A: Industry experts told The Straits Times that this is a very difficult task as there are no official links between the insurance companies on either side of the border. One insurance broker explained that the motor insurer's priority would be to settle the compensation quickly rather than having the case stretch out for many months to pursue a third-party claim with a Malaysian insurer. Mr Douglas Chia from g&m Singapore said resolution hinges on whether the Malaysian insurer responds in the first place; assuming that you are able to identify the insurer for the other party. He put the success rate for making claims against a non-Singapore registered car in Malaysia to be around one in 10. Mr Ho Kai Weng, chief executive of GIA, advises motorists that the fastest and easiest option would be for each party to make a claim against his own insurer. How much can I claim? Traffic accident claims simulator launched to help motorists settle out of court 'There is a loophole in the system': Car accident victim finds himself unable to claim insurance Q: Would claiming against my own policy mean losing my no claims discount (NCD)? A: Claiming against your own insurance policy would usually include paying the insurance excess, which is the maximum amount that you will be liable to pay. Any amount above will be borne by the insurer. The amount varies according to individual policies. The NCD is a discount given by insurers to lower the premium payable for the policy in the following year. It is given as a benefit for motorists who do not make any claims on their policy. Mr Ho from GIA said "if a motorist's insurer deems that its own driver is completely not at fault for an accident, their NCD will not be affected even if an 'own damage' claim is made". Q: Any tips to stay out of trouble when driving in Malaysia? A: It is important to have the essential documents with you when you are driving in Malaysia. This will include a copy of the insurance certificate and the vehicle registration card. Save the contact details to reach your insurer in your mobile phone for easy access. When it comes to parking, a well-lit and more visible space with security guards is always preferred. Valuables in the vehicle should be kept out of sight. Fitting an in-vehicle camera that operates even during parking is also recommended. It can be seen as a deterrent to thieves as well as a useful tool to provide evidence in the unfortunate event of a traffic accident. Q: What if you were at fault for the accident in Malaysia? Can the other motorist file a claim against your insurer in Singapore? A: Yes. Mr Ong from Accord Insurance said third-party claims for accidents in Malaysia have been successfully lodged in Singapore. It is critical that you report the accident to your insurer. GIA warns that your insurer may refuse to accept responsibility if you fail to do so. This means that you will be left to bear the claim from the other motorist." ________________________________________________________________________________________________ My usual advice: When traveling abroad 1- get enough rest before starting out on a long journey - if you just got off a long plane ride, think hard before you embark on a long drive 2- get a car that you can handle - don't bite more than you can chew - if you have never driven a 4000cc car, don't start now.. 3- understand the local rules and SOP 4- take a day or two to get use to the roads especially if it's a left hand drive 5- have more than one designated driver 6- take regular breaks 7- don't try and cover too much ground, such that you drive too much and get tired and also don't get to see much 8- check the car (tires, brakes, liquids etc) 9- get travel insurance, even if you have cover from your credit card 10- tell someone where you are going and where you come from - eg your hotel for the next night 11- drive at safe speeds 12- look out for cross winds 13- remember to buckle up - front and rear passengers alike 14- enjoy the journey and the ride with friends - nothing like the open road, here, M'sia or a longer trip... it doesn't matter so long as you are with good company! In Singapore, most of the tips still apply: - drive only when you can - drive at a speed you can handle - if you drink, don't drive - don't try and multi-task - don't use the HP, actually even with a hands free, it's not such a good idea (I try and put my phone out of reach or silence it, so I don't try to reach for it) - check the car and send it for regular servicing (oils, liquids, tires etc) - preventive maintenance is vital, don't wait til it's broken then change it - don't assume the other guy is a pro and is aware of you, drive like the other person is a lousy driver, so keep the appropriate distance away - BUCKLE UP, it's the law, and it's for your safety - stay visible and signal your intentions early - if you think you can't make it, don't accelerate and try to beat the light or the other car - if you err, stick out your hand and wave a 'sorry' - you will be surprised how that calms the other guy - if someone let's you go, and gives way, wave too - pay it forward If there's really going to be an accident: - brace brace brace - take pics - it's an SOP to have a DVR these days - FRONT AND BACK - carry a first aid kit - a bit late, but always make sure your insurance is up to date - stop the vehicle somewhere safe before you get out to talk to the other party - don't fight, don't get violent, take pics and walk away if the other party is aggressive If you see an accident, DON'T KPO, keep moving. Report it when you are safe, or on a hands free. Don't add to the accident. Rubbernecking is a bad idea. Watch out for oil slicks Be safe, not sorry Oh and if you do get stuck in a jam, just enjoy the time alone, reflect, since the car is going nowhere, don't horn or get angry. Spend a few moments of quiet time.. Finally if you have kids in the car, watch what you say or do.. Your young son / daughter is learning from daddy - if you curse and swear at everything and everyone around you, don't blame them for doing the same too later in life.. Sometimes, it's more important to do the right thing, than to lecture them, they learn more from our actions. That's it for now Finally if you do get into an accident, remember to keep cool, even if the other chap was an idiot.

TLDR: Astigmatism giving me a hard time driving in bad weather at night. Driving at night I realised I've been seeing halos/star-burst like effects/glares around traffic lights but didn't think much of it till one day it just occured to me that I may have astig. I also thought those were normal glares caused by the windscreen. I don't wear glasses and I've always had the impression that I have perfect vision but probably not so perfect anymore. It doesn't really affect my ability to drive but it does get a lot worse in bad weather. Does astig worsens with time and is getting glasses a solution? Or do you just live with the condition?

Hi everyone. It has been a week since I obtained my Class 4 driving licence. I would like to share my Class 4 learning journey if those who are keen to take up Class 4 driving licence. Actually I tried to google as much as I can but without much information as not a lot of people willing to take Class 4/5. The last time I passed my Class 3 was Nov 2014. Was planning to take up Class 4 since 2016 but kept dragging until now. Anyway, back to main topic. When Jan 2022 starts, I decided to take up Class 4 as I don’t wish to procastinate any longer. The only driving centre to learn Class 4/5 is Singapore Safety Driving Centre (SSDC). There is another valid driving centre that also teach Class 4/5. The company is Pan Country Driving Centre (PCDC). When I reach SSDC on 25 Jan 2022, I was told that SSDC slots are full. Only left with PCDC. I was reluctant to take up PCDC because I know nothing about PCDC. Previously I took up my Class 3 driving practical lessons at SSDC, I find that the instructors are very nice and patience. But oh well. I just have to give it a shot and try PCDC. For Class 4/5, you have to pay everything upfront. For my Class 4 package, I paid a full lump sum of SGD 1,115.52 for 1 theory lesson, 5 practical lessons, 1 Traffic Police test (TP) and 1 rental fee of the Class 4 vehicle. Really regret didnt take up my Class 4 few years ago, as the pricing was less than SGD 1K. So I managed to book the 5 practical lessons for the month of Feb 2022. The dates are 07, 16, 17, 18, 21 Feb 2022. The theory lesson basically is to attend and they will provide you a list of highway code with all the mandatory and warning road signs. At the end of the TP test, the TP will test you on the road signs and you have to explain to them what are the road signs means and what to do when driving a heavy vehicles when you see these signs. Basically you have to memorise the road signs and it is requirement during your Class 4 TP test. Previously I already knew that there will be rope tying and height measurement. So I managed to find Youtube on how to perform the rope tying and memorise the technique. I managed to learn the technique fast and have no issue with the rope tying. As for height measurement, it is pretty straight forward. The instructor will guide you how to estimate it. I won’t go much details on it. As for the 1st practical lesson, I mixed up the timing and came an hour late. But luckily the instructor managed to take me up for my lesson. It feels weird to drive the Class 4 vehicle because I don’t usually drive in Singapore. If I do, it will be usually in overseas. Mount kerb, strike kerb is pretty normal because I lack of driving experience. But overall, is quite fun to drive around the circuit and outside road. Cut long story short, after completing the 5 practical lessons, it is time to take my Class 4 TP test which I booked on 03 Mar 2022, 245pm. This timing is a very good timing as the traffic should not be heavy because the lunch time is over. Went for the TP test at 245pm. The lady at the front counter will inform you Test Vehicle Number. After that, I was brought to report to the vehicle and wait for the TP tester. Tester came, asked to demostrate the rope tying. Checked, no issue. Height measurement also no issue. Hop the vehicle and start the engine as per instructed. The tester conduct a briefing on how the test will be conducted. 1 immediate failure (IF) or/and 20 demerit points accumulated deem to have fail the test. Acknowledge and was asked to turn left and move off. 1st station done was at Directional Change. No issue. Next station was at Parallel Parking. No issue. Next station was at Crank Course. Came out wide turning. Turn left. Go straight and left turn bend. Strike curb when turning left. Immediate failure. Tester was quite disappointed but still allow me to did the rest of the circuit. No going outside public road. No issue with highway code. Ended up 12 demerits points and 1 immediate failure. Was told that the driving was Ok. But because strike kerb, he cannot pass me. Went up to Level 3 and book a re-test on 26 Mar 2022 (Sat), 0915am. Was feeling quite disappointed though. Thank god was a Sat. Normal bus lane is not applicable. It is also required to book 1 practical lesson before the TP test. So I managed to book 1 lesson on 25 Mar 2022. The practical lesson didn’t went well though. Still strike kerb in Vertical Parking and a lot of test vehicles during my lesson. Didn’t have the chance to practice hard enough. Came 26 Mar 2022. Woke up early and head straight to SSDC. Ate some breakfast at Woodlands Interchange. Reached SSDC around 8am plus. Waited until the lady at counter gather those taking TP test at 0915am. Same thing as the previous TP test. Reported to the test vehicle. That day, only 3 candidates including me. My tester came slightly late. I was the last to move off. The first 2 candidates move off first while I was waiting quite nervously for my tester. Finally my tester came and verify my IC and face before commencing the test. Rope tying and height measurement went smoothly. Hop on the test vehicle and was brief by the TP tester. This tester seems very professional and I had never encounter such tester who really go an extra miles to ensure the test candidate knows what he or she is doing. He conducted the briefing as per usual and ask me how do I check my blindspots. I demostrated to him and he acknowledged it. Thank goodness, the test vehicle was parked near to the slope and was instructed to do the slope first. So he instructed me to turn right when moving off. I was quite worried if he asked me to turn left because the previous test, I was asked to turn left and do some circuit tests and have to make half a round turn left to do slope. And I striked kerb during the left turning, as the turn is quite a tight corner for a Class 4 vehicle. I find that the slope location is quite away from the heavy vehicle circuit test. So I managed to perform the circuit pretty well except for Vertical Parking which I turned too early and require additional reverse movement. Other than that, not much issue in circuit. Went out the public road, perform U turn, Right Turn and Left Turn. Came back to driving centre. Went for the debrief room and was tested the highway verbal codes. Almost forgot one of the answer but managed to remember it. Tester show me the result. Passed with 18 points. Asked me to pass him my driving licence. Waited for 5 mins and came out hand me the driving licence and test checklist and told me that I passed. 18 points. The driving licence behind, he helped me paste the additional class of driving licence. There is an updated version for Class 3 where one can drive Ambulances and Medical Transport Vehicles, which is cool. So I was quite happy that I managed to close this chapter of taking up Class 4 driving course after so long. Reason for taking up Class 4 because I wish to drive a campervans in overseas such as New Zealand or Australia. Not sure whether the campervans unladen weight is how heavy so is better to take up Class 4 just in case. I was thinking whether to take up Class 5 but shall see how it goes. Meanwhile, take care everyone.

https://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-delivery-drivers-netradyne-ai-cameras-punished-when-cut-off-2021-9 Looking at side mirrors while driving is considered a bad driving habit? Or am I interpreting the article wrongly? I do glance at both side mirrors when I drive, even when I am not changing lanes or turning. To be aware of what vehicles around me are doing, to take evasive action if required. My driving instructor taught me wrong?

Hello guys, did any of yall experience a direct encounter with wildlife while driving before? Feel free to share with me your experience and what you did!!

Something that bugs me a lot. To swerve or not to swerve to avoid hitting an animal if it suddenly darts out onto the road infront of you. In Singapore's context, usually a dog, cat, sambar deer, monkeys? What else? Our natural instinct would be to swerve right? I'm an animal lover and instinctively, I would as well. But is that really the right thing to do? There's so many factors to consider, road condition, any cars near me, will the car behind me be able to stop safely? But fact is we don't have the luxury of time to analyze. What are the consequence of swerving to avoid hitting an animal? You place your passengers at risk, most will react by swerving left or right, you may end up hitting a barrier, a tree, you may take a car or two along with you, or even a motorcycle with a pillion, you may end up causing a chain collision. Worst still, you may end up mounting the curb and taking a bystander on the pavement along with you (if it's on small roads). What if you suddenly e-brake? You may cause a horrific rear collision if the car behind you is unable to react in time. What happens then if you hit the animal head on? You end up feeling guilty for killing an animal, you'll end up paying for your broken bumper/fender or other repairs. But hopefully the impact ends there. Importantly what we should do is to maintain a proper following distance, be attentive on the road and react properly on the road. Unless, you are dead sure of the road and traffic condition around you (no cars, no bikes, no pedestrians), don't swerve. Not saying that animals lives ain't important but just saying don't jeopardize the lives of others while trying to save that dog, cat or squirrel. And dog owners, please keep your pets leashed. No use crying if you don't leash your pets and then it ends up a road kill. The only fault of the driver then would be if he hits and then run.

Local celebrity Gurmit Singh was fined S$800 and banned from driving for three months for speeding on Tuesday (Jun 8). The 56-year-old actor and presenter, best known for his sitcom character Phua Chu Kang, pleaded guilty to one count under the Road Traffic Act for exceeding the speed limit while driving a vehicle. He drove at a speed of 131kmh at about 9.30pm on Apr 12 this year along Woodlands Avenue 12 towards Seletar Expressway, on a road where the limit was 70kmh, the court heard. The prosecutor sought a driving ban and left the sentence to the court. She said Singh has no prior convictions. Singh told the court that he was driving to fetch his son from the workplace he was interning at when he noticed a "flapping sound". "After I got him I wanted him to hear the same sound, so I realised it comes out at 100kmh," he said. "Of course I'm not saying I should drive at that speed at that street, but it was just a short (distance). I don't know how I got 131, I wish I knew, but I just ask the court's understanding that I'm not this reckless driver who does this daily. It's just a one-off thing I wanted my son to hear." District Judge Salina Ishak told him he could have put his son's life in danger, as well as his own. "I understand, your honour. I regret doing what I did," said Singh. Singh recently reprised his role as contractor Phua Chu Kang for a song in support of COVID-19 vaccines. The penalties for speeding for a first-time offender are a jail term of up to three months, a fine of up to S$1,000, or both. This is doubled for repeat offenders. Drivers who are convicted of speeding can be banned from driving for whatever period the court deems fit. Singh, who was named as Gurmit Singh Virk Chainchal Singh, was unrepresented and turned up in a grey long-sleeved shirt and pants.

No spelling error as I am referring to those zombies affected by frequent usage of Zoom... Key risk factors: Zoning out while driving is a likely occurrence (driver focused on a smaller view) Cognitive distraction has also been cited in the study (frequent checking of mobile phone while driving) Deteriorating driving skills after working from home (less chance to drive and forgetting the basics) Visual fatigue with long hours behind screen (slower in detecting changes and reacting to it) In Singapore, there might be a 5th reasons: more irresponsible PAB and PMD users on the road resulted from surge in demand for food delivery services. So what's your take? “Zoom Zombies” Are the Driving Dead Video call fatigue may be a factor in surging highway fatalities If you’re one of the millions of Americans who have been working from home and spending hours a day in video meetings you might notice it can become difficult pulling your thoughts back together at the end of the day. And if you then have to climb behind the wheel that could prove deadly. A new study raises concerns about “Zoom Zombies,” motorists who can’t fully focus on the road ahead after a day of videoconferencing. This may be one of the reasons why in 2020 U.S. highway deaths posted their biggest year-over-year increase in nearly a century. “COVID-19 fundamentally changed the way we interact with our vehicles,” said David Timm, founder and CEO of Root Insurance, which raised concerns about Zoom Zombies in its annual Distracted Driving Awareness Survey. “As many abruptly shifted to a virtual environment, Americans’ reliance on technology dramatically increased along with their screen time, causing a majority of drivers to carry this distracted behavior into their vehicles.” Covid-19 and the distracted driving pandemic Distracted driving has become an increasingly serious problem as more and more motorists interact with smartphones and other technology while behind the wheel. Even before the COVID pandemic, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimated that more than 10% of highway fatalities involved distracted driving. Preliminary analysis suggests that has gone up since last year’s lockdowns began. The Roots study found 64% of the U.S. motorists it surveyed acknowledging they check their phones while driving. That’s up 2% from last year, and 6% from the 2019 Distracted Driving Awareness Survey. Meanwhile, 53% of the respondents said they check their phones within the first 15 minutes behind the wheel — a 9% jump from 2019 — when they should be trying to shift focus to driving. Add the fact that drivers are downplaying the risks. The study found three in 10 drivers don’t see the risk of driving while using a mobile phone. That’s up from 24% just a year ago. But the study raised another concern: even when motorists aren’t texting or chatting on their phones, they still might not be paying full attention to the job of driving. Driving skills have atrophied That’s all the worse as we emerge from the pandemic, experts told TheDetroitBureau.com. During the last 12 months, most Americans have been driving less and even as roadways begin to look more crowded, “driving skills have atrophied for many people,” warns Sam Abuelsamid, principal auto analyst with Guidehouse Insights. “It’s become harder to drive safely because you’re going to forget some of the skills you learned over time,” added Abuelsamid. “It’s not as easy as just jumping back on a bike.” While he believes Zoom fatigue is “likely a contributor to the increase in highway fatalities,” how much it contributes is uncertain. What’s clear is that highway fatalities soared in 2020, even as motorists slashed the number of miles they drove. Record surge in fatalities Preliminary data indicated as many as 42,060 Americans were killed in motor vehicle crashes last year, the National Safety Council reported last month. That was an 8% increase from 2019. That surge occurred even though Americans drove a total of 2.83 trillion miles in 2020. That was a 13.2% decrease from the year before, marking the lowest level of driving by American motorists in two decades, reported the U.S. Federal Highway Authority. So, on a per mile basis, the death rate surged by 24% in 2020, the biggest year-over-year increase since 1924. Why does “Zooming” take so much out of people? It’s not like sitting around a table for an in-person meeting. Key visual cues are absent, such as body language, while others can overwhelm, according to psychologist Sharon Parker, director of the Centre for Transformative Work Design. They tend to be sharply focused, without the normal chit-chat and other interactions that come before — sometimes during — and after in-person meetings, Parker wrote. One result: participants come away struggling to interpret what actually happened rather than transferring attention to what comes next. And that may extend beyond the work day to when you’re behind the wheel and should be focusing on the road ahead.

A round of applause for this true motorcyclist vigilante. We need more of such road users in Singapore to bring bad drivers to justice. In a recent SGRV Facebook video post, a cyclist can be seen cycling along Bukit Timah Road sometime at night when out of nowhere, a white Toyota Hiace van knocks the cyclist down. Seeing this, the motorcyclist kicked his bike into action and chased the van down to block its path. After which, he even called in the Police. According to the screenshot of the Police report in the video, the van driver claimed that he noticed that he had hit something but 'did not saw anything'. Seeing how the van driver failed his breathalyser test that was conducted after the incident, its no wonder he didn't see anything. He was arrested on the spot by the Police. Here's the full video. Netizens singing praises for the motorcyclist (well most of them).

TL;DR – A man has been jailed for seven weeks and slapped with a four-year driving ban for speeding, running two red lights, driving against traffic and failing to stop for traffic police. In his defence, he had a stomachache and needed to use the toilet. The next time you’re driving on the roads and ‘kena’ the-mother-of-all-stomachaches, the urge to floor the accelerator will naturally creep into your mind. But don’t do it. Just don’t. Video from SG Road Vigilante YouTube Traffic police chase a man with irritable bowel syndrome This incident occurred sometime in March 2019 in the wee hours of the morning. A man left the Marina Bay Sands Casino and drove towards his home in Jurong. He experienced a stomachache and went up to speeds of 180km/hr (while literally trying to keep his S#$% together) A traffic police officer spotted him after exiting the PIE towards Jurong Canal Drive and gave chase, but the man did not stop for them. What other crap did he do? Pun intended. He ran two red lights and drove against traffic… twice. When the traffic police managed to pull him over, he had already crapped his pants. The police had to line the back seat of the police car with a plastic sheet before he was allowed to ride in it. The punishment He has pleaded guilty to one charge of rash driving and failing to stop for a police officer. He will have to serve a seven-week jail term and a four-year-long driving ban. He will begin his jail-term on the 27th of January 2021 and is currently out on $15,000 bail. Some interesting comments I mean, if you’re that desperate, anything is possible. Can you imagine the conversation in the cell? Cellmate: “Bro, what they catch you for?” Man: “Lao Sai” It sounds like you’ll suffer the next day. Source - Today Singapore

Drink-driving is never good and this is just another one of many unnecessary accidents that are caused by driving after being intoxicated with alcohol. As seen on ROADS.sg, this BMW 2 Series Grand Tourer lost control of his car and crashed into the sidewalk along Serangoon Road and Rowell Road junction on 29 Dec 2020 at 17.06 pm. Unfortunately a couple of pedestrians were hurt but we don't know the exact details. Thankfully, the accident did not take anyone's life. Naturally, netizens showed the BMW driver no mercy... Watch the full video here! We especially like the fast manoeuvre the man in the dark blue polo had to pull to get away from the crash!

Now we bet the the driver of this truck will be regretting really hard about driving after having some drinks. Spotted on Beh Chia Lor's Facebook page and some of our Whatsapp group chats, is this video of a trailer truck crashing into an HDB block at Block 152 Yung Ho Road. It happened on 16 Nov 2020. Thankfully, the tree that the truck knocked down managed to stop it from crashing into one of the first level HDB unit. Rest In Peace, tree... The truck driver has since been arrested for drunk driving. Netizens' comments were naturally not kind to the truck driver... 34c5433d-4976-4664-8e03-ca6af42dface.MP4

Hi All, I am thinking of getting a COE car with 1 year or less till scrap. The purpose is for my wife who has a class 3 licence to familiarise herself with driving again after attending refresher course at the driving centre. I have a car myself but she is not comfortable in handling it due to size, power and importantly, the modifications done for me to drive as a disabled driver (note: my car can be driven by a normal person as the pedals are intact and function normally). The aim is to build her confidence and not worry about knocks. Eventually, she will drive my car when she needs to. The budget is below $10k and she has always wanted a Honda Jazz/Fit which is perfect for a starter car. I am ok to share the cost with her. Would this be a sound decision? Thanks everyone in advance for your inputs:)

Hi bros, I was just curious how many times you took to pass Driving Test (TP)? Can share your experience and how many points you passed with. Also can give tips to people who are planning to or going to take it soon.

What would you do if you're heading to your car to find not one but TWO bags of rubbish on the bonnet? Gone viral A recent article on STOMP has gone viral with 126 shares in under 2 hours! Here's the article! Woman caught leaving rubbish on driver's car at Bukit Panjang The article describes how a woman got caught on video tossing trash on to someone else's car at a carpark in Bukit Panjang. The owner was naturally pissed off when she saw rubbish on her car. Video evidence Thankfully, the owner had a dashcam camera that recorded everything. In the video, you can see a Volkswagen Jetta pull up and park beside the "victim's" car. A woman gets out of the Jetta and dumps Trash Bag A. She then disappears out of frame for a pretty long time and suddenly, at about 1.26 into the video, another trash bag, (Trash Bag B) appears next to Trash Bag A. The woman then cooly takes all her barang barang and walks off. No F#$s given. Who should you notify There have been cases like this before. Remember that incident when someone found soiled diapers on their car? The proper authorities to report to would be the NEA. They’ll sort you out and bring the culprit to justice! NEA Hotline: 6225 5632 But, if someone did that to my car…. What the people say Wah, throw at each other okay lah. Don't play with one another car leh! *Images and screenshots taken from STOMP and STOMP Facebook Page

Here's a perfect example of how public shaming can come and bite you in the ass. In a recent video uploaded on Singapore Incidents' YouTube channel, an angry man chases down and confronts a DHL Delivery driver because the DHL driver allegedly pointed the middle finger at him. Here's the video if you haven't already seen it. In the video, the incident begins along the KPE when the DHL van does an e-brake in front of our angry man, who is driving behind the DHL van. Angry man proceeds to sound his displeasure with a couple of honks. Ideally, this should be the end of the story for most people. But, no. The angry man then proceeds to chase the DHL van like some road vigilante. As soon as angry man's car is parallel to the DHL van, we hear some cries of displeasure before he grabs his mobile device* (which was recording the whole incident) to capture DHL driver's face on video. *This is a chargeable offence by the way The video cuts off and jumps to the DHL driver sitting on the floor and speaking in dialect (Hokkien I think?) trying to justify his actions. It's not clear how they ended up out of their vehicles. Angry man then demands an apology from the DHL driver for pointing the middle finger at him. We think the finger-pointing might have happened when both their vehicles were parallel to one another (in the camera's blind spot). The DHL driver humbles himself and apologises in both Hokkien and English. But, angry man can't let sleeping dogs lie and submitted this video to shame the DHL driver. What the people say He should have just let it go after the apology and maybe he thought netizens would rally behind him. But, boy oh boy, was he wrong. What do you think?

I thought driver will get more stressful when behind the wheel? Why is it the reverse for rats? If rats can be trained to perfect their driving skills, will we have them as grab drivers one day? https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-50167812 Learning to drive small cars helps rats feel less stressed, scientists found. Researchers at the University of Richmond in the US taught a group of 17 rats how to drive little plastic cars, in exchange for bits of cereal. Study lead Dr Kelly Lambert said the rats felt more relaxed during the task, a finding that could help with the development of non-pharmaceutical treatments for mental illness. The rats were not required to take a driving test at the end of the study. How did the rats learn to drive? Dr Lambert and her colleagues built a tiny electric car by attaching a clear plastic jar to an aluminium plate, fitted to a set of wheels. To drive the car, a rat would sit on the aluminium plate and touch the copper wire. The circuit was then complete, and the animal could select the direction in which they wanted to travel. After months of training, the rats learned not only how to make the ratmobile move but also how to change direction, researchers wrote in the journal Behavioural Brain Research. What did they find? Some of the rats in the experiment had been raised in a lab, while others lived in "enriched environments" - that is, they had more natural habitats. The rats raised in "enriched environments" were significantly better drivers than the lab rats. After the trials, researchers collected the rats' faeces to test for the stress hormone corticosterone, as well as for dehydroepiandrosterone, an anti-stress hormone. All of the rats had higher levels of dehydroepiandrosterone, which the scientists believe could be linked to the satisfaction of having learned a new skill. Dr Lambert told AFP news agency that the findings could prove useful for future research into treatments for different psychiatric conditions. "There's no cure for schizophrenia or depression, and we need to catch up," she said. "I think we need to look at different animal models and different types of tasks and really respect that behaviour can change our neurochemistry."

Harsher penalties for irresponsible motorists from November; driving bans take effect second half of 2020 https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/transport/harsher-penalties-for-irresponsible-motorists-from-november-driving-bans-take

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